Disk marker for corn-planters.



C. E. WHITE DISK MARKER FOR CORN PLANTERS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I910- RENEWED JUNE 9. 1916- Patent Jed Feb.13,1917.

Wit/1 es 5 es Mm. WM 841 'G/btowu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oIIARLES E. WHITE, 0F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro DEERE & MANs'nR'coMPAnY,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DISK MARKER EoR CORNQPLANTERS.

Specification .of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed May 16, 1910, Serial No. 561,594. Renewed June a, 1916. Serial No. 102,799.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WHITE,

a citizen of-the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Disk Markers for Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in the devices which are used in connection with planters for the purpose of marking the lines on the ground, which are successively followed as guides for the planter as it moves first in one direction and then in the other across the field.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a marker mechanism of few parts and one adapted to be cheaply and quickly made and assembled. In a marker constructed in accordance with my invention it is possible for the parts to vary considerably in relative sizes without detriment. V

Figure-1 is a plan view of the rear part of the planter mechanism and of a marker embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the marker.

Fig. fl is a face view of the disk and its bearing clip.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the journal part in which the pole or rod'is adjustably secured. v I 1 In a marker constructed in accordance with my invention, a hollow journal or hearing part with an axial aperture rectan-' gular in cross section is fitted upon a square pole, preferably made of wood. The bearing piece is provided with a flange arranged diagonalto the axis of the pole; and upon this piece the disk is journaled, the concave side of the disk contacting with the outer face of the flange and the disk being held against axial displacement by means 'of a single retaining clip riveted tothe disk, which bears against the inner face of the bearing flange.

The marker pole 1 is hinged on a horizontal longitudinal axis to the rear end of the planter frame 2 and can be adjusted in a position to the left of the plane as shown in Fig. 1, or can be swung from that position about its pivotal connection 3 to the right of the planter. The planter is shown i'n'the drawings with the usual covering wheels 4, 4:, axle 5, seat 6, etc.

The pole 1 is rectangular in cross section. The journal piece 8 is formed with the bear ing ring 9 having a central rectangular aperture 10 and the securingplate or arm 11 adapted to lie flat against one of the sides of the pole and formed with the-bolt hole 12 registering with the bolt hole 13 inthe pole. The eye-bolt 1 1 engages these bolt holes and secures the bearing piece 8 against both rotation and axial movement with respect to the pole. It is formed with the eye 15 at its forward end, to which is-attached the rear end of the guy rope or wire 16, the front of which isattached to the frame parts of the planter. This guy serves to hold the disk to its work and prevent it from being swung in horizontal planes backward about the vertical pivot 17 of the universal connection between the pole 1 and the frame 2. V

The ring or flange part 9 of the bearing piece 8'is formed integral with the arm 11 and-lies in a plane making an acute angle rather than a right angle with this securing arm '11. The arm is provided with the two longitudinal ribs 18, which are adapted to embrace the two faces respectively of the pole 1, which are adjacent the front vertical fiLCQ'lQ of the pole against which the securing arm 11. is held- These ribs 18 assistin holding the bearing piece securely in position upon the pole.

The disk 20 is mounted with its convex side facing away from the planter and is provided with the central aperture 21 of a sufficient size to permit the disk to surround the pole 1, but still of a diameter smaller than that of the ring orfiange part 9-of the bearing casting 8. The annular clip 22 is riveted to the concave face of the disk'and is formed to fit snugly over the peripheral edge of thering 9 and to engage the inner face of the ring. The disk is thereby journaled about the axis of the pole as a center and is free to rotate upon the ring 9, being retained against axial displacement'in one direction by the parts of the disk immediately surrounding the central aperture 21 and in the other direction by the clip 22.

By mounting the disk, as has been described, it is disposed at a considerable angle to the line of advance, which causes the disk to cut a wide mark or furrow, which can easily be seen from a considerable distance. This inclination of the disk is prorided for by a simple and economical arrangement of one or two cheaply made parts, which hold the disk securely in position while permitting it to freely rotate. By providing other bolt holes, such as 13, the marker can be adjusted for different de sired distances between the rows of plants.

It will be observed that with the construction which I have described it is possible for the size of the pole to vary considerably with respect to the journal piece. It is well known that in the cheap production of wooden elements, such as these poles, there is relatively wide variation in size between one element and another, and it is also well known that in the cheap production of castings, such as the journal pieces 8, there will be considerable variation in size between one casting and another. If it were attempted to so form the castings as to have them accurately fit the poles on all sides, obviously in many cases the castings would be loose on the poles and in many other cases the castings would be too small to receive the poles. In accordance with my invention, however, the casting is designed with a considerable-clearance so that there will be no d-ifficulties whatever in assembling, and to prevent any looseness or play after assembling, a bolt is provided for securely holding and clamping the single flat face of the arm of the casting firmly against the corresponding fiat face of the pole.

In order to firmly reinforce the castings and prevent breakage, the flanges or ribs 18 are provided which serve as braces between the arms and'the rings. Preferably, though not necessarily, the bolt for securing the casting to the pole is provided with an eye and in this way the same bolt is'made to serve not only as a securing means for the casting, but also as an attaching means for the guy rope or wire.

As heretofore remarked, the object is to provide a diskmarker which can be used with a light'pole of wood. In case of breakage, the pole can be" replaced by the user from material on the farm. The design of the marker parts is such that no nicety of fitting is required, it being merely necessary to provide the wooden piece with the ape-rtures at proper distances from the longitudinal center of the machine to allow the marker to be set at different places, according to the hill distances decided upon, say distances of 36, 4:0 or 42 inches, from row to roW. The pole can be more or less crudely fitted, provided it is arranged to slip through the disk. Even in case the disksheet itself is broken or seriously impaired, one can be temporarily provided from the nearest disk harrow. The central aperture in the disk does not depend upon the flange 9 of the adjustable holder. The pole passes directly through the small central aperture of the disk. The flange 9 is on its outer surface convexed to conform to the face of the ordinary harrow disk eighteen or twenty inches in diameter. Neither at the shops nor on the farm is there any special labor or machine work required to enlarge this aperture. 4

The ribs or flanges at 18, 18, also serve as holders or braces at the sides of the wooden pole and avoid the necessity of more than one fastening device lt; and consequently, the farmer can quickly adjust the marker at any determined point along the pole. Even if this single fastener be passed through the aperture at 13, a short distance from the end of the pole, the ribs 18, 18, and the vertical wall 8, serve to provide a'firm bracing and fastening. device.

It will be further seen that the pole is reversible from the left side to the right side of the machine. It is straight from end to end, and the disk is held against being rotated around the pole axis and is always maintained, whether on the right or left, at the same working angle, both to the axis of. the pole and to the ground.

The box-like bracket 8, 18, 18, permits the use of pole pieces of varying thicknesses or widths, nicety of fitting not being required, as above described.

What I claim is:

1. In a corn planting marking device, the combination of a concavo-conveX disk with a reduced central aperture and when in operation permanently held in fixed angular relation to the ground, a non-rotatable, bodily reversible pole, straight from end to end, adjustable bodily through the central aperture of the disk, and a non-rotatable disk holder having at its outer end a radially flanged plate with a concave surface conforming and fitted to the concave surface of the disk, and an inwardly projecting bracket integral with the flange and open on one side and loosely engaging with the pole on the other sides to prevent its rotating about the pole, and a single, detachable, adjustable fastening device positively holding the bracket and disk to the pole axially and angularly after the end part of the pole has been adjusted bodily through the disk aperture.

2. In adisk marker for a corn planter,

the combination of a marker pole, a journal one side of the pole only, and with longitudinal ribs embracing the pole and serving as braces between the ring portion and the arm, means for securing the arm against the pole, and a disk mounted on the ring for 10 rotation about an aXis at an angle to the axis of the pole.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E; WHITE. Witnesses:

ROBERT M. ADAMS, T. E. OoNoANNoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, I). 0. 

